Laundry carrier



Sept. 6, 1927.

J. E. s. RUSSELL LAUNDRY C ARRIER Filed April 2l, 1926 /nVen/or :Jesse 19. H155 e// All/Orney Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNirED STATES JESSE n. s. RUSSELL, or Los ANGELES., CALIFORNIA.'

LAUNDRY CARRIER.

Application led April 21, 1926. Serial No. 103,492.

This invention has to do with a laundry carrier and it is an object of the invention to provide a device to aid in and simplify the handling` of bundles or parcels of laundry, or the like. i

Many laundries at the present time employ a system of handling clothes lknown as the key tag system, in accordancewith which system the clothes belonging to a customer are placed in several net bags each carrying a plate bearing a given number and having an opening of a certain configuration. Bags containing the clothes of severalj customers are washed in a lot, after which the bags are sorted out by meansv of the numbers on the plat'es and by applying the plates to pins or hooks ot certain configurations, there being one hook only that will receive plates ot a given number. For eXampe, there is one hook only of a configuration which will receive or lit the openings in the plates attachedto the bags containing the clothes of one customer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a carrier including a plurality of hooks or pins to receive bundles or bags of the laundry so that the bags can be sorted onto the carrier at one location and the carrier moved to another location where the sorted bags can be removed and the laundry from each group of bags wrapped or otherwise handled.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carrier of the character mentioned which is of simple, inexpensive construction and is easy to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier of the character mentioned which can be installed in a comparatively small space.

The various objects and features of my present invention will be best and more fully understood :from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying` drawings in which :r

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus provided by this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus, being a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3; j

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. l; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken as indicated by line 6--6 on Fig. 2

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section taken as indicated by line 7,--7 on Fig. 2 and Fig. 8 is a view taken asindicated by line 8-8 on Fig. l. f v

The device provided by this invention includes, generally, what I will terma trackway 10, carriers 11 supported by and operating on Vthe trackway, stop means for the carriers, and various other parts the details and functions of which will be hereinafter described. v

In accordance with the broader principles of my invention the trackway 10 may be constructed in various manners and the various parts thereof lmay be arranged or re`ated in several different ways. I have in this case set forth only one typical arrangement or construction of trackway but do not wish the invention understood as thereby limited or restricted. The trackway as shown inthe drawings includes, generally, a pair of delivery rails 14;, a pair of return rails 15, curved extensions at the ends of the rails 14 and 15 whereby the carriers hereinafter described may lbe passed between the ends of the rails ,14 and 15. In the arrangement' shown the `delivery rails 14 are arrangedv above the return rails 15 and suitable standards 17 are provided to support the rails. The delivery rails 14 are pitched or inclined downwardly so that their discharge ends are lower than their receiving ends, and the return rails 15 are pitched or inclined so that their-receiving ends are higher than their discharge ends. The delivery and return rails are of course oppositely related or pitched so that the high ends of the return rails are opposite or underthe low ends of the de livery rails. The standards 17` are arranged outside the pairs of rails sothat the space between the rails is clear to carry the carriers 11 -as will be hereinafter described. In the particular arrangementshown the rails are supported at each end by a standard 17 and y at a point `intermediate their length by another standard 17 The standards may be suitable frame structures formed of angle iron, or the like, provided with horizontally disposed brackets 20vwhich extend under and support the rais. In the form of construction shown in the drawings the deliveryrails l.. .lu

14 are provided at their lower ends with downwardly extending semi-circular rail tensions 21, while the return rails 15 are provided at their upper ends with upwardly ex-V tending semi-circular rail extensions 22 which are of greater' radius than the extensions 21. rIhe extensions 21 and 22 are related so that the extension 22 extends around or outside the extension 21 in spaced relation thereto, the space between the extensions c orresponding to the diameter ot the mounting wheels which are hereinafter described. The delivery rails 14 are provided at their upper ends with 'downwardly extending semicir cular rail extensions 23 similar to the exten sions l21, while-the return rails 15 are provided at their lower ends with upwar'dy eX- tending semi-Circular extensions 24 similar to the extensions 22. krThe curved extensions 23 and 24 are arranged in spaced relation similar to the extensions 21 and V22 to carry the mounting wheels as hereinafter described.

In practice 'the 'device may be provided with various numbers of carriers 11. The carriers extend between or are carried by the rails of the trackw-ay above described. I have, tor sake ot example, shown the device provided with several :carriers 11 and have shown Vone 'of the carriers at the upper end of the delivery rails, at which point carriers are loaded, an'd have shown the other carrier at the lower en'd of the 'delivery rails, at which point the 'carriers are unloaded.

Each carrier may comprise a comparatively long beam having a plurality vot pins 'or hooks 30 'projecting from it. The ends ot the beam 31 are supported on the rails through wheels 82. In 'the preferred arr-angement each "end of the beam `31 is supported through a pair 'of wheels 32 so that the beam is 'effectively 'supported against turning or rotation. In the construction shown in the drawings ea'oh 'pfair of wheels i's mounted on a plate 33 attached to lthe end of the beam 81 lthrough a suitable angle iron 34, or the like. In practice it is desirable to connect one of the wheels 32Vat one end of the beam with the eorre'sl'jonding wheel at the other end of -the beam so that these two wheels rotate together or at 'the same speed. This interconnection may be made by fixing one of the wheels 32 'at one end ol the beam and the corresponding wheel at theother end of the beam on a shaft 36 which extends between 'the plates 83 parallel with the beam 31. The slia'ft ymay be carried in bearings ln'io'ufr'ited on the beam,r This construction is employed to prevent binding oit 'the 'car'- rieis or wheels 32. The wheels 82 are pro vided 'with flanges 40 by 'which they are effectively held `on the rails. Bumpers 61 may be provided oirtlie carriers shown in the drawings. A

Stopsw44 'are carried on pivot pins 4o vat the upper ends ot the delivery rails rto catch and hold the ends of the beams 31 upon the beams being' moved to loading position at the upper ends oi the delivery rails 14. Y The stops 44 maybe in the form of hooks which normally hang in position to engage the end portions of the beams as the beams are movedl to the loading position. A beam or carrier held by the stops 44 may be released by hitting the. stops up out of engagement with the end portions of the beam.

Spring supported stops 46-a`re provided at the lower ends of the delivery rails 14 to catch and hold the carriers in the unloading' position or at the lower ends oit the rails 14. rIlhe stops 46 may be in the form ot hooks slidably held by bolts 47. Springs 48 may be provided in connection vwith the hoek stops 46 so that they are exten-ded and absorb the shoelt when the hooks are engaged by the carriers. The `stops '45 may be normally held up by leaf springs 49 so that they are in rposition to catch the end portions of 'the bean'is of the carriers. T he springs 4,9 allowV the stops to be depressed to release 'the carrie'rs when it is desired to move the carriers from the delivery rails to the return rails.

Stops Tt) may be provided at suitable points in connection with "the return rails to the carriers in case it is not desired to allow the carriers to run freely to the lower ends of thereturn rails when released from the unloading p o'sition;

ot the bags have been sorted onto the hooks,`

the catches or stops 44 are released allowing the "carrier to r'o-ll dowfn` along Athe rails 1i until they engage orare caught'by 'the stops 4G. The bags of clothes are removed from Ythe lhooks 30v while the carrier is in `the unloading position held by the stops 46. lVhe'n the carrier is coni'pletely 'unloaded 'the "stops 4G are depressed releasiA g the carrier, so that itssupporting wheels' pass onto and around the rail extensions 21 and 22, by vwhich `operation the carrieris transferred trein lthe delivery rails to the return rails. The return rails vcarrythe carrier to 'the rail extensionsl 23 and ,24.` l/Vhen the carrier is again required for use "the operator moves it from thelower end of the pair of return f rails to the receiving end of the pair of delivery rails during which operation the wheels 32 'pass along and between the rail extensions 23 and 24 and are thereby transferred from the return rails to the delivery rails. It will be apparent from the toregoing description how several carriers may be kept in operation and how the device simplifies the handling` and sorting of the bags ot laundry. 1

Having described :only atypical preferred form of my invention I donotwish .to limit myself' to the specific details se't,torth,-but wish to reserve to myself any changesI or variations that may appear to thoseslrilled` in the art, or may fall within the scope ofl the following claims:

I-Iaving described my invention I claim:

l. Laundry handling apparatus including a carrier having a beam, key, projections lon the beam -to receive and holdA bags ot' laundry, and a traclrway supporting the beam so that it is movable between a loading position and an unloading position.

2. A carrierfoi the character described including a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends of the beam, means connecting the wheels at the two ends of the beams so that they operate together, and a traclrway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading position and an unloading position.

3. A carrier of the character described including a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, two spaced wheels at each end of the beam, means operatively connecting one of the wheels at one end of the beam with one ot the wheels at the other end of the beam, and a trackway supporting the beam through the wheels so that it is movable between a loading and an unloading position.

4l. A carrier of the character described including a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends of the beam, and a traclrway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is 1novable between a loading position and an unloading position, the trackway including a pair of delivery rails for carrying the wheels from the loading position to the unloading position and a pair of return rails for carrying the wheels from the unloading position to the loading position.

5. A carrier of the character described including a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, ,wheels at the ends of the beam, and a traclrway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading position and an unloading position, the traclway including a pair of delivery rails for carrying the wheels from the loading position to the unloading position and a pair of return rails arranged below the delivery rails for carrying the wheels from the unloading position to the loading position.

6. A carrier of the character described including a beam, projections `on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends ofthe beam, and a trackwaysupporting the beam through the Vwheels so that the beam is movable between avloading position and an unloading position, the trackway including a pair of delivery rails anda pair of return rails one above the other, and extensions Aonthe ends of said rails for carrying vthe wheels from one `pairof rails to the: other.

7. rA carrier of thecharacter described including a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends of thebeam, and a traclrway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading positiony and an unloading position, they track'way including a pairof delivery rails and a pair of return rails one above the other, and curved extensions on the ends ot said rails for carrying the wheels from` one-pair of'rails tothe other.

8. A carrier of the character described in- .cluding a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends of the beam, and a trackway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading position and an unloading position, the trackway including a pair of delivery rails and a pair ot return rails one above the other, and overlappingcurved eX- tensions on the ends otsaid rails for carrying the wheels from one pair of rails to the other.

9. A carrier of the character described including a'beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends of the beam, a shaft connecting the wheels at the two ends of the beam so that they operate together, and a trackway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading position and an unloading position. n

10. A carrier of the character described including a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends of the beam, a trackway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading position and an unloading position, and releasable stop means for holding Athe carrier in one of said positions.

1l. A carrier of the character described including a beam, projections on the beam to hold laundry, wheels at the ends of the beam, a trackway supporting the beam through the wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading position and an un loading position, and releasable yielding stop means for catching and holding the carrier in the unloading position.

12. In laundry handling apparatus a carrier, and a trackway for the carrier include ing delivery rails for carrying the carrier from a loading position to an unloading position, and return rails for carrying the carrier from the unloading position to the loading position. Y Y

13. In :laundry handling apparatusua laundry carrier, and a tra'ol'zway for the carrier including a pair of delivery rails and .a pair of return rails, thel twov pairs of rails being spaced apart, and ifail extensions at both ends of both pairs of rails for carrying the carrier between the two pairs of rails.

14. In laundry handling` apparatus a laundry Icarrier, and a trackivay for `the carrier including delivery rails for carrying the earrier from a loading position to an unloading position, and return rails or carrying the.

carrier from the unloading position to the loading position, one of the rails having a portionv movable into and out of operating position to allow passage of objects into position between the rails.

15. In laundry handling apparatus a icarv rier, and a traekway for the carrier includammi/se hinged portion movable into and out of Y operating position to allow passage of ob-V jects into position `betweenthe rails.

146. A. carrier of the character described' including a beam to hold laundry, Wheels at the ends of the beam, a traokway support.- ing the :beam through the Wheels so that the beam is movable between a loading position andan unloading positiom-and releasable Stop means for the carrier 'aft bothv ends of the trafokwvay. i

lnlw'itness that I claim the foregoing I have hereuntosubsoribed .my name this 14thV 

